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FPL To Pilot Community-Funded Solar Power Plants

In a recent announcement, Florida Power & Light has announced a new solar power option that may soon be available to its customers in The Sunshine State. In consideration at the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) is FPL’s proposal for a voluntary, community-based, solar partnership pilot. If approved, FPL will install new solar-powered facilities in Florida communities.

The pilot will be funded with voluntary contributions from customers. The FPL customers who choose to take part will give $9 a month. This is so little for changing our future to one based on renewable, clean resources. The customers who do not take part will not see increased bills.

“As the leader in providing the most solar power in the Sunshine State, FPL has long been committed to planning for Florida’s clean-energy future, and we, along with our customers, believe solar should play an increasing role in Florida’s energy mix,” said Eric Silagy, president of FPL. “For customers who care deeply about advancing clean energy – including those who may not have the ability or desire to install their own solar systems – we are proposing to create a voluntary, community-based partnership that is designed to help grow solar in Florida without costing a penny for those who choose not to participate.”

With contributions of $9 a month, the aim is for FPL customers to fund the construction of 25 commercial-scale, distributed solar arrays totaling 110 megawatts. So, for those of us who have not yet put solar on our own roofs or cannot do so, we still can help advance the solar energy revolution.

“We know that some of our customers have an affinity for solar power, but we also know that for a variety of reasons, many are not able to install it themselves. This pilot program will allow us, along with the PSC, to truly gauge customer interest in supporting solar power,” said Silagy. “Ultimately, any program we offer must be designed to benefit all of our customers, and this voluntary, community-based solar program is designed with that goal in mind.”

The expectation is that by 2015 FPL will provide the initial necessary funding so that the installation (by local FL based installers) of at least the first two to five solar arrays can begin early the next year. Information on the first sites planned continues below:

As an incentive to encourage customer participation during the three-year pilot, the charitable foundation of Eric Silagy, president of FPL, will contribute a total of $200,000 a year on behalf of the program to Florida-based non-profit organizations and local chapters of national non-profits dedicated to environmental protection and community development. Customers who sign up for the pilot will have the opportunity to select their preferred organization from a list of several well-recognized, reputable non-profits, including the Everglades Foundation, Save the Manatee Club and the Florida chapters of the National Audubon Society and The Nature Conservancy.

“The Everglades Foundation believes that solar energy is an important component of an overall strategy to reduce Florida’s and the nation’s dependence on fossil fuels. FPL’s voluntary solar partnership plan is an example of the leadership and innovation needed for a better and greener Florida,” said Eric Eikenberg, CEO of the Everglades Foundation.

Among the first communities selected to host the new solar arrays are Fort Lauderdale, Sarasota and West Palm Beach, Fla. FPL is also working with additional communities across the company’s 35-county territory to determine sites for potential installations based on a variety of factors, including space availability and local customer interest in the program.

About the Author

Cynthia Shahan is an Organic Farmer, Licensed Acupuncturist, Anthropologist, and mother of four unconditionally loving spirits, teachers, and environmentally conscious beings who have lit the way for me for decades.

So you give $9/month, they collect it and build solar plant. Then sell you that power.

Bob_Wallace

They steal your cow. And then sell you the milk.

Ronald Brakels

I have a cow. All Queenslanders are issued with one. It was an initiative of the Bjelke-Peterson Government. In the event of a bovine revolution I have to find that cow and fight it to the death.

Bob_Wallace

Here’s a couple of cow-fighting tips.

1) You actually can’t run up to them and tip them over. City-boy myth.
2) Respect the tail. They can give one a stunning whack. And if they are not practicing good grooming skills the embedded poop, if soft, can get in eyes and temporarily blind. (Take that advice from someone who has done a bit of milking.)

That’s kind of slow. Quicker to feed them a lot of green feed and watch them explode.

Ronald Brakels

Thanks for the advice guys. Since my cow is going to be at least 33 years old, if still alive it’s going to be the toughest scrubber out there. (Scrubber: Cow that goes off to live by itself in the scrub growing progressively tougher, stronger, and more anti-human. Ferments revolution, among other things.) I’m planning to use a nuclear weapon, just to soften it up, before donning my black pajamas to face it in hoof to cleaver combat. Using foot and mouth disease is against our warrior code, but just like in feudal Japan it is permissible to use the horror that are rabbits against them. At times cows have sunk up to their bellies in rabbit warrens. But sometimes I wonder, are they using the rabbits against us?

Bob_Wallace

You did the rabbits to yourself….

Ronald Brakels

Bob, we’ve been doing ourselves with rabbits for a long time.

A Real Libertarian

That reminds me.

Anytime Abbott goes on about how climate change is harmless, respond with this quote:

“The introduction of a few rabbits could do little harm and might provide a touch of home, in addition to a spot of hunting.” -Thomas Austin

Ronald Brakels

Or I could just ask him if 45 degrees is hotter than 44 degrees. But that’s a bit of an unfair question. He is only Prime Minister and can’t be expected to know the answer to complex mathematical questions like that.

Mickey Askins

Let me know when the last time FP&L did anyone a favor. I love solar, do it for yourself, and save money one day, do it for FP&L and pay forever.

Wayne Williamson

Teco is probably as bad. Florida should be loaded with solar and probably quite a lot of wind. maybe some day………..

Wind Energy

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